Posts by Cold Steel

19

Who has the authority to decern what the bible really teaches?

by TTWSYF in

so i ask because of all the books, mags and testimonies that the wts promotes.

not only the wts, but many other christians attempt to speak about the bible with authority.

how do we measure who is an authority if we don't know that much?.

Cold Steel

Hernandez » I say this as an Ex-JW who has become Catholic, so people of other convictions--religious and non-religious--are likely to have different views. But I can at least share the Catholic view: In the end, you have the authority and ability to discern for yourself what God is telling you through the pages of the Bible.

Hmmmm. One certainly has the authority to believe what one wishes, but as far as the authority to interpret scriptures, it must be done by revelation through the Holy Spirit. "If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally and ubraideth not, and it shall be given him." (James 1:5). And Matthew speaks of Jesus' warning regarding blind leaders. Without light, they seek to lead others who are blind, in which case both fall into the pit and perish. (Matthew 15:14)

Catholicism and Orthodoxy both depend on two elements: Scripture and Tradition. If scripture cannot interpret itself, then it falls upon tradition, usually in the way of the early patristic fathers. If these don't do the job, one must seek guidance from God. I would not recommend trying to interpret it yourself.

One problem is Isaiah 52-53, beginning with the last several verses of Isaiah 52. I say that because many Jews interpret the following chapter as the kingdom of Israel. Christians, however, rightfully interpret it as pertaining to the Messiah, his suffering and ministry. Muslims interpret Isaiah 29 as pertaining to the Qur'an, while latter-day saints believe it points to the coming forth of the Book of Mormon.

Another problem is literacy. When Jesus blessed the bread and wine, he said, "This is my body...this is my blood." Catholics see this as literal, while most other Christians see it as metaphor. In a time when miracles had ceased, the church needed something it could point to that was a living miracle, every week. Transubstantiation was just the ticket. It was like the invisible return of Christ in 1914 and the fastest gun in the West ("Wanna see it again?") Great events in our day...they're just invisible. But when Christ said, "Oh, Jerusalem...How oft would I have gathered thee under my feathers," I sincerely doubt he actually had feathers or wings. It was metaphor.

So these are problems with interpreting scripture yourself. Seeking spiritual guidance is the way to go in my view. In the case of the Jehovah's Witnesses, they, being without light, are superlative examples of blind guides leading the blind. The entire Adventist movement is a string of failed prophecies fractioning off into others sects that also experienced failed prophesies.

24

BEARE OF INDEPENDANCE - Leaked Talk On My YouTube Channel

by pale.emperor in

brother melvin mallett delivers a talk entitled beware the spirit of independence.

(because, you know, thinking for yourself is not what jesus wants.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7znpzkakaki.

oh, and remember folks... this isnt a cult or anything!.

Cold Steel

This is the problem with this website. It's too independent. If you let people think on their own, they might read whatever Bible version they want, and that could lead to all sorts of evils. How could you guys make any sense out of the Organization's magazines which are inspired of God (but not as inspired as the scriptures, which is a position I've never understood -- either something's inspired or it isn't...how can Jehovah inspire one more another?)

The Society is very careful to keep its members on a short leash. It condemns the Roman church for withholding the scriptures from people and burning those who tried to read the scriptures on their own, yet it achieves similar control on people by publishing a substandard Bible and quoting only it in its required reading supplements. And if I question, say, the state of the dead in my own church, it turns into a discussion. Apparently, if you question it in a class in the Kingdom Hall, it can turn into being dragged in front of a body of elders!

So much for independence!

21

Hypothetical: If WTS Reformed...?

by Cold Steel in

as i said in the subject line, this is purely hypothetical.

what do you think would happen if the wtbts leaders decided to reboot some of the organization's more controversial practices.

not that they would deny their claims to be jehovah's earthly representatives, nor the key elements of their eschatology; but in administrative outlooks.

Cold Steel

How would they apologise to all the folk whose lives have been made miserable by shunning. Would they now announce in big letters that it had been their practice and it now is not.... etc

...Or those who have lost precious children because they couldn't get blood transfusions. I've read of cases where JW parents were caving, then elders showed up and after some intense counseling of the parents, they steeled and allowed their children to die. In these cases I'm not sad for the children. They go on to a better place in my view. But the parents are the real victims. As the years roll on and they begin to doubt the faith, that can lead to enormous guilt.

25

I found my wifes new blood card

by Steel in

i would like to say i am not in and my wife is a marginal witness at best.

she doesn't say anything bad about the borg or live an amoral lifestyle.

she just doesn't read the bible, or even the tracts anymore and generally has no clue about anything biblical or doctorial related.. i found my wives new card yesterday.

Cold Steel

Steel » Having power of attorney over another man's wife really seems to be personally and legally crossing a line. I am actually talking to a lawyer next week about estate planning and getting our wills done. God knows whatever else they are involved in my life.

In my view it's crossing a HUGE line. Have you considered taking it up with the elder, himself?

It's bad enough that these men, appointed by the Society, are so influential in the members' homes and families that they can (and do) divide them. In this case, however, it's difficult to tell what happened. If your wife went to the elder and complained that, in a medical emergency, she could not rely on you to reject the administration of blood in her behalf, he might have volunteered to be her contact.

On the other hand, if you're no longer a believer, what would she do if you were unconscious and needed blood? In some sense you can't trust her, either. It's entirely possible she went to the elder because she couldn't trust what you'd do. Or it's possible the elder inserted himself into the situation because he didn't trust you.

Before you proceed, you really need to find out what happened. You may be able to talk to the elder directly and discuss the possibility of rearranging his nose if he didn't find somewhere else to stick it. But if wifey went to him, then you need to have a heart-to-heart talk with her and discuss what you both want in the case of an emergency.

When God forbade the drinking of blood in the Old Testament, there were no medical uses for blood. He could not have made the exception at the time. So if He were willing to make an exception for the medical uses of blood, how would anyone know? According to the Governing Body, the Lord no longer speaks to man. His lips are sealed. Thus it should be a private matter unless the GB says Jehovah appeared to them and gave them further light. As it is, their exegesis is so unbelievably bad that it should shame the entire organization.

21

Hypothetical: If WTS Reformed...?

by Cold Steel in

as i said in the subject line, this is purely hypothetical.

what do you think would happen if the wtbts leaders decided to reboot some of the organization's more controversial practices.

not that they would deny their claims to be jehovah's earthly representatives, nor the key elements of their eschatology; but in administrative outlooks.

Cold Steel

As I said in the Subject line, this is purely hypothetical.

What do you think would happen if the WTBTS leaders decided to reboot some of the organization's more controversial practices. Not that they would deny their claims to be Jehovah's earthly representatives, nor the key elements of their eschatology; but in administrative outlooks. For example:

Members are free to visit whatever churches they wish for research or social purposes such as weddings or funerals. Jesus frequently interacted with the Jews at the temple and found occasions to teach them gospel truths. Jehovah's first right He gave to Adam and Eve was free agency and the right to act as they thought appropriate. We encourage our people to act responsibly at all times and with civility.
Despite our controversial stand on giving and receiving blood for medical purposes, we now feel it appropriate to make it a matter of personal conscience, and a decision to be made after much prayer contemplation. It is clear that Jehovah God forbade the barbaric and apostate practices of drinking blood during pagan or satanic rituals, but at the time He gave these instructions, the medical use of blood to save human lives was unknown. Certainly, no rational person can equate the medical use of blood with apostate worship, and the Jehovah has not made His will known to us in relation to this matter and therefore we are reversing our previous stand and are making it a matter of personal conscience.
After prayerful consideration, we have determined to reverse our position on shunning. We cannot bring our wayward people back into the fold if we deliberately create distance between them and us and generate hard feelings between family and friends. There are serious sins people commit that may require special consideration by the congregation, but this must be addressed on a case-by-case by the leaders and peers of the sinner, who will help that person to repent through both love and discipline when necessary.
Also after careful study and prayer, we now openly invite all followers of Christ within the Organization to partake of the emblems of the Memorial Supper. Further, we are not to forbid or discourage outsiders or visitors from partaking as this ceremony is, as it is known as The Memorial, the way we remember the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

You get the idea.

If these and other reforms, like emphasizing higher education for its youth and decreasing missionary demands on its members, were implemented, do you think they would increase activity and interest in the Society or would they spell its demise? How would the general membership react to reforms even though the doctrine and claims remained intact?

10

Take My Silver and My Gold..

by snugglebunny in

jw
friends

no, these are not new lyrics.

they are the original lyrics as to be found in the 1950 songbook: "songs to jehovah's praise".

the song is simply called "dedication".. the words may have been altered in recent years, but the "new" words are simply the old words being re-hashed.. we can't make a meal of this as some are doing.. just saying, that's all..

Cold Steel

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=E6-2eXjx-h0

31

Why cant Judicial Committees be taped?

by HereIgo in

i have never understood this.

was it because of legal reasons?

i cant think of any other reason why it wouldn't be allowed, but i know the elders ask you repeatedly that you are not taping.

Cold Steel

Why can't Judicial Committees be taped?

They can.

But please..if you do, don't post a video of the ceiling or a crooked frame of a chair and the floor. Try to get at at least one of them in the frame.

You might also take in a small tape recorder. When they ask you if you're taping it, pull it out and say, "I'd like to if it's okay with you." That way you won't have to lie when they say no and they'll stop looking for the camera. You might also ask if they're recording it. Oh, and don't ask if they mind if you smoke. (It'll be a real short meeting.)

Also, DO NOT ask them how they know Jehovah picked the WTS in 1919.

28

Taking the Bible Lessons And Going To a KH For First Time

by Cold Steel in

i've taken the bible lessons but have never attended a kingdom hall.

i was curious as to what point they begin to tighten the screws of control?

let's say you're a baptist.

Cold Steel

Perry » What the Watchtower does to members is unlike anything in the NT church, because the WT only applies God's Grace to the leaders. This sets up the two-class system where them and ONLY them are needed for your salvation.

The faithful and discreet slave used to be the 144,000 anointed, self-appointed class. Then the leaders hijacked the term and cut everyone else off at the knees. Oh, the others will still be resurrected as spirits who can manufacture physical bodies at will (I suppose while visiting their family, friends and cats on Paradise Earth.) They also apply grace to all those who made up the ancient saints. All of them make it.

So why do they knock on our doors? So we can survive an Armageddon they don't understand and be trapped in a garden for untold trillions of years eating vegetables, grains and fruits. We get to go to the mountains, to the beaches, hold meetings and have family reunions for more millions of years than there are grains on the shore. Each day will be like the one before and the one after. If I make it is go nuts! I'll make some cool looking uniforms, get a bunch of people together and start a war! I'll conquer the next valley, then the next and do on. Meanwhile, cows will begin disappearing at night.

I've got it all figured out.

Wanna be a General? How are you with a grill?

14

Dumbest elder

by Chook in

i went to field service group once and the young elder taking the group was wearing a hat and said the prayer with a hat on.

i informed him later that you are not meant to have head covering, he said he was unaware of such things.

now that the calibre of recruiting on the part of co..

Cold Steel

Chook » But the hat thing is a joke most religion wear some type of head covering Pope, skullcap by Muslims, Kippah by Judaism and we have the turbans. It interesting that we here in the western culture considered it rude or disrespectful for a man to wear a hat inside a church.

When the hat is part of a religious tradition or part of religious vestments (such as the temple garments worn by Aaron and the Levitical priests it may be worn or removed as instructed by the dictates of their worship. When going into a synagogue, it's customary to wear a kippah, or yamaka. (There's usually a container of them for guests, which are to be returned before leaving.) The idea is that it's to remind the worshipper that there is always someone over you, watching and hearing you. I find it a nice touch. But Western tradition stipulates that if you're wearing an outdoor hat that you remove it indoors. This is especially true in the military.

Baseball hats and other deeply religious head coverings are apparently meant to be worn at all times and places with the former to be worn at all sacred places of worship such as shooting ranges, bars, bowling alleys, sportig events and theaters (that's thee-ā-ters, not thē-ă-turs).

Everything its place and in its season.

28

Taking the Bible Lessons And Going To a KH For First Time

by Cold Steel in

i've taken the bible lessons but have never attended a kingdom hall.

i was curious as to what point they begin to tighten the screws of control?

let's say you're a baptist.

Cold Steel

No, I don't actually want to attend just yet. But I'm just curious.

Years ago my grandparents lived right across the street from a Kingdom Hall. My grandfather, a Methodist, was a religious man but didn't have a car. During bad weather and such, he would just go to the Kingdom Hall instead. And he would go nearly every Wednesday. He'd bathe, dress up and shave, then he'd take his Bible and go to meetings. Sometimes he'd bring literature back with him and the next morning over breakfast, he'd get his glasses and his Bible and go over it.

He did NOT buy into the sleep death doctrine at all, but he apparently felt he got something out of it. I was too young to understand anything anything about it. I just figured it was another church. I also didn't know what Armageddon was, but I knew it was bad and that if you were good you had nothing to fear. To me it was a huge word that ran across the whole page of some of the stuff he brought home with him.

I don't know if they offer Bible courses anymore -- they don't ask like they used to. But who knows? I used to go to other churches just to see what they were like, but stopped after visiting a Pentecostal church. Scared the hell outta me. I was one of the only people in my seat. Everyone else was rolling around and acting like people in that Walking Dead zombie show!